Filled it up with my first N/S fire after the cold start was down to coals around 8:30. Put 1 peice E/W in the back to level off the bottom, then filled it up to the tubes. After about 20 minutes, the stove was around 575, then settled in at 500. At one point, it dipped back down to almost 400, but 10 minutes later, kicked back up to 500-525, where it stayed for as long as I was up. Checked it this mornign at 7:00 and the stove was at 150, with a few large chunks of coals in the back.
View attachment 144892
I think I have been turning it down way to early, and not loading enough initially. The N/S worked much better; the only issue I have is that most of my delivered wood is not stove length, and I'd have trouble getting them to fit this way.